The Red Ball Express was a large convoy system created to supply allied combat units at the front following the breakout from the D-Day beaches in Normandy due to the need to keep supplies getting to the ever advancing front line. This convoy system lasted from the end of August to Mid-November when the port facilities at Antwerp were opened. As these trucks were no different from other trucks except for the unit markings if wasn’t hard for Tamiya to take their GMC 6×6 Cargo Truck kit and with a few additions create this kit.
Coming in a medium sized tray and lid type box this kit contains a total of eight sprues moulded in dark green plastic, one small sprue of clear parts, a length of plastic tubing for fuel hoses and a length of string for the winch cable. All are moulded with Tamiya’s trademark quality with no flash, near non-existant mould seams and knock out marks that are hidden where possible and very small where not.
The basic truck kit takes up five of those sprues, two of which are a double to provide all the wheels, twelve in total – ten on the road and two spares. Because of this doubling up of the one sprue you get a few extra parts such as an extra grille frame.
A very nice engine is included which is somewhat wasted as the hood lacks the hinges or underside detail to display it open ( a job for AM detail kits ). The hood sides are well moulded but are a candidate for PE simply to get the open vents. The rest of the chassis is also very well detailed, especially as in most cases it will never be seen. The wheels are all moulded in two halves and have good tread detail although it could be a little deeper towards the top.
The wooden parts of the cargo bed have exquisitely fine woodgrain detail which will require the builder to go light on the paint to avoid obscuring it completely. The bows for the canvas tilt can be modelled in position or stowed at the front of the cargo bed. There is however no canvas tilt included in the kit so you’ll need to make your own. There is though an optional canvas roof supplied for the cab.
There is one driver figure included with the base truck kit plus another two in the additional parts added to make this into the Red Ball Express version. He has a well defined face and good detailing on the uniform but as with a lot of Tamiya’s figures ( and drivers in particular ) he does seem rather small. Equipmentwise the base truck kit includes several haversacks, two Garand M1 rifles in vehicle mounted holders and three jerrycans which all have the correct three carry handles.
The extra three sprues added for the Red Ball Express version include the two additional figures, both standing and both dressed in typical US ETO uniforms. Also included on the figure sprue are three welding tanks and assorted tools and equipment. Again the level of detail matches that of the truck itself. The other two sprues are both the same and are sold separately as the “Allied Vehicle Accessory Set” and comprise six fuel drums, twenty jerry cans, sixteen assorted bags and satchels, eight assorted rolled tarps and four mines in bags.
Decals and a paint guide are provided for one of four vehicles : 10th Armoured Division 55th Armoured Engineer Battalion HQ Company No. 40 ; ASCZ 3886th Transportation Corps Truck Company no. 49 in the Red Ball Express ; 1st Army 3549th Transportaion Corps Truck Company No. 37 ( July 1944 Normandy ) ; 3rd Army 8th Corps 637th AAA Battalion HQ Company No. 1 ( February 1945 Belgium ).
For the small increase in cost over the base GMC Cargo Truck I’d reccomend this one everytime simply because of the extras that you get for a few extra dollars. Either way this kit makes up into a very, very nice model and it can be enhanced even further with Tamiya’s own accessories set, resin wheels and a good photo-etch set. But whatever your style of building I’m sure this kit won’t disappoint. In fact I like this kit so much I own five of them myself ( convoy diorama coming .. er … one day ).
Click on thumbnails to enlarge image.
thanks Dean
its got me thinking
cheers